Penobscot Valley High School

JJJ

Maine
School Administrative District #31

Athletic
and Co-Curricular Eligibility

Eligibility
Requirements

Hichborn
Middle School and Penobscot Valley High School students are eligible
for athletics and co-curricular classes by maintaining a passing
grade for their required number of courses. All Hichborn students
must maintain a passing grade in all assigned courses. All Penobscot
Valley students must maintain a registration of at least six classes
every ranking period throughout the year, and must pass all six
classes. Classes with labs count as one class.

School/Community
Service credit does not count in the above minimum course-load.
Online coursework (such as PLATO or other correspondent courses) that
covers courses currently available at PVHS does not count towards the
minimum course-load, however, they may be counted if the student has
already failed the course is retaking the class online as
remediation. Approved online courses will count towards the
course-load minimum if the course-work is at the AP or college level,
or if the needed class does not fit into the student’s schedule.
PLATO courses will count towards the course-load minimum only if the
student has already failed the PLATO subject in the regular
classroom. Any class/course/service that does not count towards the
minimum course-load will not be counted towards the eligibility
requirement.

All
students must meet these course-load requirements in the ranking
quarter before the start of the sport in which they wish to
participate. Semester-end exams and semester final grades do not
count towards the eligibility requirements. In addition, Students
must meet PVHS attendance requirements, complete all necessary
athletic paperwork, and meet all eligibility requirements of the
Maine Principals’ Association.

School
Attendance

In
order to participate in any activity students are expected to attend
a full day of school the day of the activity.

An
athlete shall not participate or attend athletics on the day he/she
has been absent from any class due to illness or without just reason.
Students who have scheduled appointments, (i.e. doctor, dentist,
college interview, etc.) must notify the school of the absence at
least one day in advance in order to be able to participate that day.
Official notes will be expected as verification. These notes will
be given to the Athletic Director and must be received before the
student can participate in any athletic activity the day of the
absence.

An
official note means a note from the office of the scheduled
appointment and cannot be from a parent or guardian. It is the
responsibility of the student to provide the note; the school will
not seek out official notes.

Commitment
to Athletics

Once
a student has made an athletic team at PVHS, he/she is considered to
be a student/athlete and continues this status throughout his/hers
high school career. The student/athlete must adhere to the
following:

Serve
as a role
model
to other high school students and to the younger student/athletes in
the community.

Conform
to a higher
standard
of behavior in the classroom, around school, and around the
community.

During
athletic contests, display good
sportsmanship and respect
at all times toward opponents, officials, coaches, and fans.

Refrain
from acts that are illegal. If the student/athlete is charged by
law enforcement officials for any activity that is illegal, is found
in possession, use, furnishing, or selling of tobacco products,
drugs, or alcohol, for possession of drug paraphernalia, or is found
to have been present for any amount of time at gatherings where
alcohol or drugs are being used, the following consequence will
result:

The
student shall be ineligible to participate in any athletic or
co-curricular activity for the remainder of the current activity
period, or 30 calendar days, whichever is greater. This disciplinary
consequence applies whether or not the violation occurs at school or
at a school-sponsored activity.

The
fall activity period begins on the first scheduled Maine Principals’
Association (MPA) practice and ends on the MPA closing date for fall
activities. The winter activity period begins on the same date the
fall activity period ends and ends on the MPA closing date for winter
activities. The spring activity period begins on the same date the
winter activity period ends and ends on the last date of SAD 31’s
spring activities.

Any
student participating in any co-curricular activities will be
considered a participant until after his/her last competition.
Should the prior season and the starting date of the following
activity period overlap, the student will be considered a participant
in both seasons, and appropriate discipline will be administered. If
an infraction occurs after the participant’s last competition, the
participant will receive his/her award(s) but shall not be allowed to
participate in an awards ceremony. See School Board Policy JICH

Be
present the entire day of school according to the attendance
guidelines.

Abide
by all the guidelines established by the coach and/or printed in the
Student/Parent Handbook.

THE
ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION HIGHLY RECOMMENDS AND FULLY SUPPORTS
SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING FOR ANY ATHLETE IN VIOLATION OF TRAINING
RULES.

HICHBORN
MIDDLE SCHOOL -- ONLY

INTERSCHOLASTIC
SPORTS

Interscholastic
sports are available to all boys and girls. These may include, but
are not limited to, wrestling, basketball, baseball, softball,
soccer, and cheerleading. Intramural sports are also available.
After-school sessions with teachers have priority over practices or
games. Students participating in interscholastic sports or
intramural sports with teams that compete against other schools are
subject to the following eligibility rules:

Middle
school players cannot be failing any subject at the end of the
ranking period preceding the sport season. If a student is
ineligible at the start of a sport season, he/she is ineligible for
the entire season. Middle school players cannot receive an R in
Work Habits/Social Behavior in any subject.

If
a student is ineligible at the start of a sport season, he/she is
ineligible for the entire season.

During
the season, academic eligibility will be checked by
teachers/coaches every 2 weeks. If a student is failing a course,
the athlete shall be ineligible to participate (athletically
suspended) until he or she brings the grade up to a passing grade.
If the athlete does not bring the grade up within 2 weeks, he or
she shall be ineligible for the remainder of the season. If at the
end of the quarter a student is failing a class that student is
ineligible to play the next sport.

Any
middle school student who fails a subject during the fourth ranking
period will be subject to the preceding rule for the first ranking
period of the following year.

The
policy for athletic eligibility for 8th
grade for 4th
quarter should be at least the same as it is for the high school
for fall eligibility.

All
students who participate in interscholastic must have school health
insurance or proof of health insurance.

All
athletes must attend all scheduled practices. Exceptions to this
rule are as follows: doctor appointments, sickness, funerals, or
other athletic director/principal approved reasons.

The
student athlete must wear proper sport attire for both practices
and games.

Students
must be present at school on the day of the game/meet to
participate unless excused for valid reasons. This determination
shall be made by the athletic director/principal.

An
athlete will be suspended from sports activities if it becomes
known that he/she has been using drugs, alcohol, or tobacco
products.

All
athletes must conduct themselves in such a manner as to be a credit
to themselves, the team, the school, and the school district.
Conduct unbecoming an athlete will be grounds for dismissal from
the sport. If a student athlete incurs a detention for a level one
infraction or a higher infraction, the athletic director shall be
notified and the student will be ineligible to participate in
practices or games in that sport until the day after the detention
has been served.

All
students shall be transported to and from an activity when school
transportation is being provided. A parent/guardian may transport
his/her child home from an away game after gaining permission from
and signing a release provided by the coach. A designated adult
may transport another student home after the other student’s
parent/guardian has personally notified school personnel and signed
an appropriate release. This must be done 24 hours prior to the
activity.

All
students participating in athletics must have a current physical
examination prior
to trying out, going to practices, and continued participation.
Each physical examination is valid for a two-year time frame. Proof
of such examination needs to be given to the office.